Focused ultrasound

In the lab of the Van Vuurden group, in close collaboration with the Therapeutic Ultrasound group of UMCU (dr. Mario Ries), FUS-BBBD research is focused on improving drug (small molecules, monoclonal antibodies) delivery to the brain in models of high-grade glioma (HGG) such as diffuse midline glioma (DMG).

Focused ultrasound with radiotherapy

KWF project 10911 (PhD student Elvin 't Hart) the same approach (microbubble and ultrasound-mediated BBB opening) in combination with radiotherapy, to increase the uptake of radiosensitizers: drugs that render tumor cells more vulnerable to radiation. Radiotherapy is one of the cornerstones of brain tumor treatment and enhancing its effect by better drug delivery is thought to ultimately increase survival in these cancers.

'Brain-on-a-chip'

To study pharmacokinetics and pharmacodymics of FUS-BBBD, drug exposure profiles anticipated with FUS-BBBD) are mimicked using microfluidic ‘brain/cancer-on-a-chip’ systems in collaboration with the Huitema research group and UTwente (prof.dr.ir. Loes Segerink, dr. Kerensa Broersen, dr. Andries van der Meer), to assess therapeutic index and ultimately optimize treatment planning in patients.

Focused ultrasound with immunotherapy

Exploration of targets for immunotherapeutic modulation of the tumor immune micro-environment (microglia, tumor-associated macrophages) are part of a collaborative project with the Rios and Stunnenberg research groups at The Máxima (PhD student Thijs van den Broek). Combining FUS-BBBD with these novel immunotherapeutic approaches will be investigated to translate the findings into clinical trials.

Clinical trials

Close collaboration with UMCU (dr. Mario Ries) explores FUS-BBBD-enhanced liquid biopsies in high-grade glioma, funded by NWO. For clinical FUS-BBBD studies, the Dutch Neuro-FUS Consortium was established, led by Dannis van Vuurden. This multicenter collaborative was funded by de Hersenstichting and set up around a clinical FUS-BBBD infrastructure (Insightec Exablate Neuro 4000), acquired by the Princess Máxima Center and UMC Utrecht. Clinical trials using FUS-BBBD-mediated drug delivery are developed in pediatric and adult brain tumors and Alzheimer’s Disease in this project and are set to start in 2024.